Lehigh Valley universities receiving new state funding for teacher workforce

Three Lehigh Valley universities are part of the Shapiro Administration‘s expanding Accelerated Certification Program for special education to train the teacher workforce.

Alvernia University, DeSales University, and Moravian University are among the 14 postsecondary institutions receiving funding in the second round of awards for the Accelerated Special Educator Certification Program. Alvernia University received $99,646, DeSales University $100,000, and Moravian University, $50,000.

The Pennsylvania Department of Education announced that the program will provide more than $1 million in funding to the institutions to expand accelerated certification programming to prospective special educators and train more qualified special educators.

“Pennsylvania’s educator workforce shortage will take flexibility, innovation, and creativity to solve, and initiatives like the Accelerated Special Educator Certification Program demonstrate how thinking outside of the box can produce critical and much-needed results for the Commonwealth,” Acting Secretary of Education Dr. Carrie Rowe said in a statement. “Between the 142 new special educators poised to enter classrooms across Pennsylvania and the hundreds of additional individuals who will also take advantage of this opportunity, we are making real and meaningful progress toward getting more high-quality educators in our schools.”

Pennsylvania’s current teacher workforce stands at 123,190 educators, with the largest shortages in Grades 4-8, Special Education PK-12, Mathematics 7-12, Life and Physical Sciences 7-12, and Career and Technical Education 7-12. The United States Department of Education has designated these areas as critical shortages, and Pennsylvania needs 1,670 special educators.

According to a release, grants are made available to colleges and universities with approved PK-12 special education certification programs to partner with at least one school district, approved private school, career and technical center, charter school, cyber charter school, or intermediate unit to provide individuals who hold bachelor’s degrees with summer field experiences, mentoring and coaching by experienced special educators during the school year, and deliver a postbaccalaureate program for PK-12 special education teacher certification within 18 months.

Programs are to provide a combination of in-person and virtual options to the accelerated program participants working full-time and ensure a minimum of 12 weeks of student teaching, per the release.